Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/48

26 often drew him into insolence, and gave him a degree of presumption which his talents, though by no means inferior, did not justify. He scorned to owe anything to the reflected lustre of another, even of his brotherin-law, as appeared first in the business of the garter, and since in every political negotiation they were engaged in. From his dependants and the other branches of his family, he expected a degree of deference to his opinions and inclinations, which was not consistent with their interest or their dignity; and occasioned the breach with his brother Mr. Grenville, whose abilities deservedly carried him to the first situation. At the same time he seldom made any sacrifices to their objects, or entitled himself to their affections by acts of kindness or generosity. Yet with all this pride he was one of the most affable of men. He was easy of access and caressing to his inferiors. His society was cheerful and débonnaire even to boyishness, and he would bear almost anything to be said to him by those who lived with him. He was magnificent in his buildings and loved ostentation, which his great income, seldom diminished by instances of free bounty and not a little increased by constant parsimony, enabled him to indulge in rendering Stowe one of the finest private palaces in Europe. But in his buildings and gardens may be always seen an attention to economy, that disgraced his splendour and marked his character. Whenever he gave, it was either at the earnest solicitation of those whom he could not refuse, or to gain some object to his vanity or ambition. He knew nothing of the pleasure of giving. His temper was easy and pleasant in his own house, and his domestics did with him just what they pleased; that is, served him as ill as possible, which he never discovered. Yet whoever has heard him in parliament or in his closet upon political subjects, knows that the rancour and violence of his mind were almost incapable of bounds during the fit of passion, which however was not often durable, at least to one